Erica Schwartz, the president’s nominee to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affirmed her support for vaccines, including mRNA COVID-19 shots, during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
She said, “I have been vaccinating people throughout my entire career in uniformed services. I believe in vaccines, and I do believe that mRNA technology is safe and effective.”
Schwartz’s stance contrasts with the current Health and Human Services Secretary, who previously dismissed the agency’s former director for refusing to alter vaccine guidance and cut scientific staff.
The CDC has been led by a Senate‑confirmed director for only about a month during the president’s second term, amid cuts to public‑health funding, firings of scientists, and attempts to scale back childhood and COVID‑19 immunization programs.
With a background as deputy surgeon general and former chief medical officer of the Coast Guard, Schwartz enjoys broad support in the public‑health community, which hopes she can restore credibility to the agency.
During the hearing, she pledged to “follow the science wherever it leads” and to prioritize rebuilding trust in public‑health institutions.
Some senators expressed doubts that she would maintain independence from the Health Secretary, noting that the former director was dismissed after refusing to comply with politically motivated changes to vaccine recommendations.
Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, pressed Schwartz on her willingness to challenge policies that lack scientific basis, emphasizing the need for unbiased leadership.
Cassidy, a physician himself, had recently lost a primary after clashing with the administration over vaccine policy, underscoring the political tension surrounding the appointment.
Schwartz assured the committee that she would never compromise on science and would always adhere to the law.
Other committee members raised concerns about the administration’s politicization of public‑health research, including the removal of grants that supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
She reiterated that restoring trust and ensuring scientific integrity are her top priorities if confirmed.
Schwartz also expressed support for a national agenda that promotes nutrition education and physical fitness assessments.
At the same hearing, she testified alongside the assistant secretary for preparedness and response, who reaffirmed that vaccines save lives and are safe and effective.
Upon confirmation, Schwartz would replace the current acting director, who also serves as the director of the National Institutes of Health.
